HUNDREDS of York residents queued round the block today to grab their annual chance to get a tourist's-eye view of the city - absolutely free.

This massive queue began to form bright and early in Parliament Street as locals waited patiently for their free tickets to some of the city's main attractions as the popular Residents First weekend got into full swing.

This weekend's event includes some buildings, like the Evening Press offices, which are not usually open to the public.

Ivan Martin, from Rawcliffe, who is a Minster guide, said: "For me it is a good thing.

"You are able to see things that aren't normally open to the public, like the stone mason's yard.

"Although we show 11,000 tourists around, it is rare that we show residents around."

Jill Pickering was accompanying her father Keith Pollard and her daughter Alex around the city. The family were hoping to get tickets to travel on a Guide Friday tour bus and visit the Jorvik Viking Centre while Mr Pollard was particularly keen on looking round the York Brewery. Mrs Pickering thought the offer was "fabulous".

Other families, meanwhile, were hoping the offer would get them into attractions which are normally quite pricey for entire families.

Karen Fowles, of Strensall, had promised two excited daughters a trip to Waterworld.

She said: "It is usually very expensive and we think it is a wonderful thing that we can get in free."

John Stewart, of Rawcliffe, was using the Residents First weekend to get his first chance to visit the Jorvik Viking Centre, despite having lived in the city for 34 years.

He said: "It is a very good idea to do this because the tourists always go round everywhere and it is nice for the residents of York to get something out of it."

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